Clogged Toilets, Drains, Showers & Sinks

Is a clogged shower drain getting you down—or slowing you down—as you get ready for your busy day? End your frustration by calling PlatoPlumbing. We’ll be right over! Our plumbing professionals respond quickly to accommodate your schedule when you have a bathroom issue like a tub or shower clog. Call at the first signs of a slow drain to prevent a complete clog or backup from happening.

Although we’re a recognized national brand, at PlatoPlumbing, we think like a small business. Your local PlatoPlumbing technician will get to your home on time. We’ll diagnose and explain the cause of your clogged shower drain and recommend the best solution. We carry all specialized plumbing tools and commonly needed parts right in our service vans. PlatoPlumbing will get your home back up to speed quickly! Our courteous plumbing professionals always respect your home—and we always clean up after ourselves. You can call on us anytime, 24/7, in an emergency.

Clogged Drains

What are the signs of clogged drains?

  • Water backs up out of a sink drain.
  • Water pools around a shower drain, then drains out slowly.
  • Toilet bowl water bubbles when you run the sink.
  • Slow draining of water from your bathtub, sink or other fixture can indicate a clog, even if there’s been no backup yet.
  • Gurgling sounds from drains, especially after running a washing machine or dishwasher.
  • A mysterious puddle of water on the floor near tub or sink.
  • Rotting food smell from the kitchen sink drain or disposal.

Before calling in an expert, you can try these clogged drain tips:

  • Fill your sink part way with water.
  • In a double kitchen sink, plug one drain with a wet rag while plunging the other side.
  • For bath sinks, plug the overflow hole with the rag.
  • Work the plunger up and down many times, then quickly pull it off the drain. Repeat this a few times.
  • For your toilet, use a flange plunger rather than a cup plunger.
  • Don’t resort to chemical drain cleaners as they can corrode your pipes.

This diagram shows many of the common types of vents and drains in most homes. The green pipes represent outgoing wastewater, the yellow pipes represent ventilation tubes, the red pipes indicate hot water, and the blue lines show cold water.

 

Clogged Showers and Bathtubs

What are the signs of a clogged shower or tub?

  • Water rising slowly toward your ankles as you shower or overflowing as you bathe.
  • Flood conditions in your bathroom.
  • A slow-to-drain tub or shower.
  • Strange gurgling or “strangled” noises coming from the tub or shower drain.
  • An unpleasant odor coming from the drains.
  • A pool of water around the drain when it hasn’t been used in hours.

What you can do to fix a clogged shower drain or tub before you call PlatoPlumbing:

  • You might have a simple, easy-to-reach hair and soap scum clog in the bath or shower. You can check by removing the drain screen, if you have one.
  • For pop-up drains, raise the lever to open, then grab the stopper and pull (or unscrew) from the drain hole.
  • Use a bent wire to grab and pull out the clog.
  • Clean the stopper of hair and soap–and replace.
  • No luck? Try plunging, with about an inch or two of water in the bottom of the tub or shower.
  • Cover the holes of the overflow plate using a wet rag or duct tape.
  • Plunge the drain. You can try a series of 3 or 4 plunging attempts if the first doesn’t produce results.

Diagram illustrating main plumbing aspects of shower or tub

Clogged Toilets

What are the signs of a clogged toilet?

  • Toilet clogs and overflows
  • A constantly running toilet that may spontaneously refill
  • Poor flushing or no flush at all
  • Leaks around your toilet
  • A hissing sound or water trickling inside the toilet tank

What might be going on with your toilet:

  • Clogs and overflows:  Clogs are a common toilet repair issue, which, after a flush, result in the dreaded overflow. Clogs can often be addressed with a plunger.
  • Toilet runs constantly or spontaneously refills Toilets that run constantly or spontaneously flush can add up to a lot of money in wasted water, and typically indicate a worn or damaged flapper. Flappers are relatively simple to replace and a leak can be verified with a simple dye test.
  • Poor flushing or no flush at all:  A poor flush is usually the result of the holes under the rim of the bowl or the siphon jet becoming clogged. You may be able to loosen the debris with a wire coat hanger, using a small mirror to see under the rim. Be careful not to scratch the toilet bowl.
  • Leaks:  Leaks around the toilet may result from a leaky supply line, a cracked bowl or tank in need of replacement, or leaks from one of the five seals on your toilet. Identify the seals and see if their bolts and nuts can be tightened or if the seals will require replacement. You will find seals:
    • Between the tank and the bowl.
    • At the mounting bolts at the base of the ballcock assembly (the water supply valve inside your toilet tank.)
    • On the plastic flange underneath the base of the toilet. Please note: If you discover a broken flange is the source of your leak, toilet repair performed by a professional plumber is recommended.
  • Hissing or water trickling in the tank:  Water trickling into the tank from the supply line may be a result of a stuck float, the refill tube being inserted too far into the overflow tube or the need to replace the entire ballcock assembly (fill valve).

When to call PlatoPlumbing for toilet repair:

  • Severe leaks and overflows with structure damaging potential.
  • Raw sewage backups and overflows that could present a health hazard.
  • Complete loss of water supply to your toilet that cannot be restored.
  • You can’t find the source of a leak or find a solution to your toilet issues.

Prevent a Clogged Drain from Ever Ruining your Day Again

Preventive maintenance is the key to keeping your home’s plumbing system healthy. We offer an economical maintenance plan to clean and maintain your pipes, drains and your entire plumbing system. Neglected pipes are often lined with years of buildup (including hair, sand, rust, grease and minerals from hard water) and they may begin to corrode. PlatoPlumbing maintenance is a great way to save money and help prevent future repairs, burst pipe emergencies or inconvenience.

Be Prepared in Case of an Emergency

Locate the shutoff valves throughout your home and familiarize yourself with the components of your plumbing they control, including the main water shutoff valve for your home. Familiarizing yourself with these valves can be the difference between mopping up a small leak or major water damage effecting the structure and contents of your home. If you are having problems addressing toilet repair issues in your home, contact PlatoPlumbing. Our licensed, professional plumbers can quickly and correctly address your home’s toilet repair needs.